UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): March 14, 2016
Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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001-36646
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46-1047971
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer Identification No.)
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6300 Dumbarton Circle
Fremont, CA 94555
(Address of principal executive offices)
(510) 456-3800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
Departure of Georgia Erbez
Effective March 14, 2016, Georgia Erbez is no longer employed as the Company's Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.
Appointment of Chief Financial Officer
Effective March 14, 2016, the Board of Directors of Asterias Biotherapeutics, Inc. ("Asterias" or the "Company"), at the recommendation of its Audit Committee, appointed Russell Skibsted as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Skibsted is also the Chief Financial Officer of BioTime, Inc. ("BioTime"), which is the majority-owner of the Company. Prior to joining BioTime in November 2015, Mr. Skibsted was Chief Financial Officer of Proove Biosciences, Inc. since 2014. From 2013 to 2014, Mr. Skibsted was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of RSL Ventures, where he provided financial consulting services to public and private companies in the life sciences sector. Mr. Skibsted served as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded biopharma company, from 2010 to 2013, and was Senior Vice President and Chief Business Officer of Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, a publicly traded biopharmaceutical company, from 2006 to 2009. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Skibsted served as Chief Financial Officer of Hana Biosciences, and from 2000 to 2004 he served as Chief Financial Officer and Portfolio Management Partner of Asset Management Company, a venture capital firm. Mr. Skibsted holds a B.A. in economics from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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ASTERIAS BIOTHERAPEUTICS, INC.
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Date: March 14, 2016
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By:
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/s/ Stephen L. Cartt
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President & Chief Executive Officer
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